Dining Room Update

So for all of those following the dining room table saga, here she is.

Notice something missing? Yes, I have managed to make it to the age of 32 without owning 10 cloth napkins. How is this possible??? Any napkin recommendations? Of course I could just go white but Im feeling like a little color or pattern would be nice here.

Ps #1: In case you think I've gone off the deep end, I didn't set the table just for this photo. Mr. L was having his old country relatives over for lunch so it had to be done.

Ps #2: For those that commented they liked the old table better: I totally 100% agree with you! The problem was that it did not function in a way that I needed it to. Whats the point of having a big dining room table if I have to make guests eat standing up? If I could have made it so that it would sit 12, I would have happily paid a small fortune to make it so. (or if the table would have fit in any other room I would have gladly repurposed) So for $225, I have an intermediate solution that should last for a while and be more functional. Its not by any means perfect (it only seats 10 and it has its share of damage)but it works for now. When I find a table I love AND seats 12, I will be chucking this one and plunk down the cash to buy it.

PS #3: For commenters concerned about my hoarding tendances I'm happy to report that I have given the table to my brother who just happened to be dining room table less. Its still in the family but has gone to a good home. Everyone wins - especially my scare storage space.

And all this dining room talk has me itching to host a dinner party. Timing might not work out with Halloween coming up but maybe I can squeeze one in to christen the table?

41 comments:

I think the new table looks great! I don't think it is too shiny for the floors, and looks like it was meant to be in your dining room. Glad the old table found a good home too! My recommendations for napkins are brown polished cotton ones. They will blend in with the table, and mine can be dressed down for more casual get togethers and dressed up for more formal ones. And they can always be used for the rustic look. I have plenty of colored cloth napkins, but always end up using the brown ones for every occasion.

Hello. My name is Sue and I don't even know how I found your blog but I really am enjoying it. I love this table! You mentioned napkins and I have a beautiful table which I prefer not to cover unless absolutely necessary with a tablecloth BUT I love to change out my napkins, both for different designs and at holidays. Only problem they are quite pricey - SO what I do (very easy if you have ANY sewing abilities or perhaps a friend) is to buy a tablecloth you like (I usually purchase mine at Bed Bath & Beyond w/a 20% coupon) or find a tablecloth on sale. Buy a rectangular one and cut it into squares the size you like, hem the edges (you can even use that fabric "glue") and voila! you have beautiful napkins (sometimes as many as 16) out of ONE tablecloth!

haha, I completely agree with the comment above.. my only response to this post (as I know nothing about napkins and couldn't care less whether you hoard or not) is that you look like you're about 25. I would've never guessed a year older.

This will sound nuts, but Pier 1 has the most amazing coated napkins that repel stains and water like nobody's business. They come in solids and prints. Water literally beads up on them and I've yet to find anything that can stain them. Plus they're super cheap and look good!!

Napkin ideas! I love a napkin with sheen, and use my muted gold ones from Bed Bath and Beyond often, but for more casual parties and such I bought solid-color bandannas in various colors from Hobby Lobby for less than $1 each. They look just like napkins if folded properly, but are thin so I do have to iron them. But that way you can grab navy, brown, butter... and change your mind all the time!

I think it turned out lovely. Even without the napkins. I'm so glad the old table is "still in the family." Oh, and I think you are about as far away from a hoarder as you can get. You just never know when you might need something...right?

I did something similar...I had a gorgeous, expensive table that I loved from Crate and Barrel, and then had three kids, and thus the beautiful table was forever hidden under elasticized oilcloth tablecloths. I got tired of having a cow everytime the kids ate at the table (like, 3 times a day?), so I bought a kind of dinged up table off craigslist that has a nice dark brown color. And now I don't care that the kids stab their forks into it. (My pretty table is wrapped in a blanket out in the garage.) (Actually I have a whole post on it, but that's the long story short.)

I think the table looks great and is a great "for now" solution. In the past I've always thought if I can't get what a really want I'm just not going to get anything. And my house is painfully empty because of it. I'm trying to embrace the idea that a house is collected over time and doesn't appear all at once, and sometimes you need to compromise for what fits your space and budget for now even if it's not your ideal situation.

I think the new table looks fantastic! My table had legs all over underneath, too. Sadly (or happily?) it was just a Target table and I could unscrew the cross bars to let my chairs tuck under the table.

As for napkins, I like the set of simple, white ones I bought a while back, but I also like to pick up fun ones when I see them at TJ Maxx or HomeGoods. :)

I really love this table and you cannot beat this price! Looks great - I really think some simple burlap looking napkins would look amazing here - but if you are looking for pattern and color I'd check out dwell.

I actually got my fall pottery barn catalog yesterday and started seeing all of their halloween decor and I got to thinking about how excited I am already to see your home decked out for Halloween!

I LOVE the table! I do agree with your comment in an earlier post though that the chairs may need painting/replacing sometime in the future.

I scored on a big garbage bag full of linen and cotton napkins when a family friend's elderly (posh) mother passed away. He didn't have any use for them but heard I'd be interested. After a hot launder and ironing, they are wonderful! Try ebay or even etsy for a deal like that. Target used to have a pretty hemstitched linen napkin. Pottery Barn has lovely ones and you can have them monogrammed. The bonus there is that it's unlikely they will discontinue that style if you lose or ruin a few in the future.

I LOVE your blog and amazing taste. I went to Kenya 6 years ago and it is truly one the most amazing places I have ever been. Thank you for sharing. Your pictures were incredible...it made me miss it even more.

Your dining room is beautiful, just as the rest of the house. Do you mind me asking where you found the upholstered host chairs??? I have been looking all over for something similar.